I was surprised to see this sign announcing the coming of a new bike box, while approaching the intersection of Taylors Ferry and Terwilliger, on my latest bike ride to work. I admit I was also a little baffled as to the importance of installing a bike box on this intersection. Yes, I am a cycling advocate, and I realize that there is a fair bit of bike traffic on this road. I am just not convinced that there is enough bike traffic, nor is there a more than significant danger to cyclists that can be alleviate the risks. I am pretty sure that this will require a restriction to right turns for the 3 lanes that currently have that option. Which will further back up traffic, cause confusion, and will simply be disregarded by some drivers anyway, which, since they will be turning from farther back in the intersection, will only serve to cause more danger to everyone around them. The first bike box I saw, was the one on Madison, just off the west approach to the Hawthorne bridge. We were on our bikes at the time. When we got there, a car was stopped at the light, in the middle of the box. I think the boxes are a great try and it does raise driver awareness a bit. I am just not convinced its the right answer.
You can get much more in depth perspectives at BikePortland.org
The Portland Tribune just had a good article on bike boxes.
“Not all cyclist go bonkers for boxes.”
I’m not really a big fan of bike boxes. The bike boxes exist because motorists don’t pay attention to the road and what’s outside of their 4-wheeled cages. There are motorists whom are distracted by every kind of technology gadget available inside their car: cell phones, DVD, navigation systems, audio systems. Other factors, such as being in a hurry for work or an appointment, is also another factor. Eating on the go is another one (like a Discovery show pointed out about the Autobahn, many German cars built for Germany don’t have cup holders, unlike American cars, which have at least a dozen cup holder).
There are times, however, bike boxes are a plus. One time in Gresham, I proceeded straight north on a bike lane at SE 223rd Ave. and Burnside. I nearly plowed into a right-turning pick-up truck bearing Washington state plates with a trailer filled with motocross bikes.